24 hrs post surgery

[Kieraface]

hi ladies,

I’m 24 hrs post surgery and just got home. I’m exhausted and in so much pain. I can’t get comfortable and I keep burping but feels like I’m gonna be sick. Any tips or pointers? xx

[me94]

Hope your surgery went well? Peppermint capsules or peppermint tea helps with gas pain. Burping is a good sign as then you're releasing the trapped wind. The gas pain is very uncomfortable for a few days after surgery but moving around a little bit helps with that too. Could you ask gp for antisickness tablets or stronger pain relief meds or phone 111 as it's the weekend. Hope it settles soon

[Kieraface in reply to me94]

I also found my scars are so itchy. I think the glue and I don’t get on and I’m having a reaction to it. I’m so so itchy

[me94 in reply to Kieraface]

Aww not good. It could be the glu or the wounds are trying to heal. Maybe try an antihistamine? X

[Palomino13]

Try peppermint capsules. The pain is awful I know but try and get up and walk. As soon as you have a bowl movement a lot of the gas pain will go. I kept getting up and walking up and down the hospital room. It worked by day 2. Well done the hardest part is over xx

[AlexaMac]

Hi, these first few days or weeks are challenging to us.

There are things which helped me, hope something might help.

Number 1 do not lie flat in bed, l had a pillow wedge and the main pillow laid on top, top to bottom rather than side to side. Ordered the pillow wedge from ETSY it arrived in 3 days, check the depth at the top of the slant, l went with a 25cm one, but even a 20cm would make a difference.

I kept some freshly boiled but partially cooled (room temperature);water in a thermos to sip at regularly, dehydration can be an enemy at this stage.

Don’t challenge yourself to long walks maybe just a walk around the garden every 40 minutes to an hour apart should get your body eased back gently into condition.

Food is another challenge l know. Maybe 4 or 5 tiny meals rather 3 large ones could help.

Mostly be kind to yourself and let the housework go hang for a couple of weeks, the dust will not challenge you after all 🤔🤗.

Please let me know if l can be of any more help

Alexa 🌸🌸🌸

[Kieraface]

thanks ladies. The pain is horrific today. I am dreading a bowel movement. I can’t bend so I’m quite worried about wiping 🙈😖 I’m making sure to walk the length of the apartment regularly. Feel so sick today as well. Peppermint tea makes me feel even more sick 😖

[Cocoacupid]

Hun I felt like that after my first lap and also I had shoulder pain it’s the anesthetic wearing off. When you lye down don’t lye down flat prop your self up with pillows and only lye on back as if you lye on side will be extremely 😣. You have had major intense surgery now so you will feel the pain now. Make sure you’re taking regular pain medication. Rest up and please don’t do anything strenuous have you got some one with you at home as I leave alone I stayed at my parents for a couple days and then went back to mine no I think I actually stayed longer as o got sepsis and was in hospital a week I think I stayed maybe two weeks until I could drive againxxx

[Kieraface in reply to Cocoacupid]

I’m sorry you got sepsis. That sounds awful! I’m lucky, I have my partner living with me and he’s taking good care of me. I’m just so sore. The itch is awful. I’ve taken antihistamines and I’m on codeine and paracetamol: can’t have any anti inflammatory meds as I’ve got the injections for my tummy to stop blood clots and you can’t use any anti inflammatory meds with them x

[Kieraface]

so sore and swollen. There are actually 5 entrance points one is hidden here but they’re all in a row around my stomach

So swollen after 48hrs

[Cocoacupid]

aww darling looks very sore am glad you have your partner looking after you. Take care and message me on here if you want someone to talk to. Still waiting on my letter from the consultant but am hopeful xxxx

[Kieraface in reply to Cocoacupid]

Thank you so much! Same to you. Feel free to message me if you wanna talk xx

[Cocoacupid]

thank youxxx

[Rol81]

Hi x

Hang in there, the first few days are tough but try to just take it one day at a time. I wasn’t prepared for how comfortable / painful it was for the first few days . But every day you’ll improve slightly. Just take you time and not rush. No lifting or house work!! It’s frustrating but you need time to heal.

Defo drink peppermint teas and try walk round little bits at a time. Every hour or so , just a couple of minutes. Helps with the bloat and gas.

I had to sleep propped up by pillows and some under my knees also .

Feel free to message me anytime if you need support.

[Kieraface in reply to Rol81]

Sorry I thought I’d replied! Thank you! I’ve been making sure to have minty goodness to help pass gas and walking. In bed I’ve propped myself up but the pressure on my bum is pretty painful. I really wanna lay on my side. These bloody holes are so annoying?!? How long do you have to stay on your back for? x

[Rol81 in reply to Kieraface]

Don’t worry, no need to reply, I just know how unsettling it is the first week and it’s nice getting support from other that went through it or going through it at the same time.

I couldn’t go on my side for a couple of weeks tbh but everyone is different. I’d avoid for the first 3-4 days maybe, give the stitches more time to heal

Maybe try a pillow slightly under one bum cheek so tilt you left or right so you’re not in one position 🙈

[EndoAt33]

Hello! I’m 2 days post op with five entry points right across my stomach too - did you have robotic surgery like me? The gas leaving my body has been excruciating, particularly when taking deeper breaths and up into my shoulders. I’m drinking lots of mint tea and trying to keep walking around every so often which definitely helps a bit. Keeping on top of pain meds too but I’m on tramadol instead of codeine (codeine makes me sick) and it’s definitely helping the soreness of my tummy. Taking it easy and slow and I slept with 3 pillows wedging me up in bed last night which helped me sleep. Do you have access to the ward still? I have direct access for two weeks after being discharged. Might be worth giving them a ring and seeing if they can help with a change in meds or something to help the itchiness? Best of luck x

[Kieraface in reply to EndoAt33]

Yeah I had robotic surgery on Friday. Davinci xi. I’m just gonna contact my GP tomorrow as I had the surgery through private healthcare at work but any pain relief etc is all added extras and they charge an inordinate amount for the meds. I had to take the injections and they’re bloody painful! I’m so swollen and sore in my stomach but I have to inject a needle into my tummy once a day for a week 😭 codeine and paracetamol don’t seem to be helping the pain AT all, need something stronger. I’ve tried polos thanks to someone else’s tip and I have been walking regularly which is NOT enjoyable but it has helped me burp and I finally did pass wind the other way…. Hurt like a B@tch 😭 xx